Her remarks immediately ignited backlash online, with fans accusing Inaba of being “cold” and “disrespectful.” Many argued that Robert’s emotional connection to the dance — which he dedicated to his late father, Steve Irwin — was what made the performance special. But Inaba doubled down, suggesting that Robert may have received “a bit of favoritism” because of his last name. “If this were another contestant, that routine wouldn’t have earned the same amount of praise,” she added.
Social media erupted soon after, with hashtags like #JusticeForRobert and #TeamCarrieAnn trending on X (formerly Twitter). Some praised Inaba for her honesty, calling her “the only judge brave enough to tell the truth,” while others demanded that she apologize for what they saw as a “personal attack.” Despite the heated reactions, Inaba has not retracted her statement — and it seems the tension at the DWTS judges’ table is only just beginning.
